L. Daniela Alvarez

Daniela is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle and culture. In her free time, she's either cuddling with her goldendoodle Chai, buying plants, or having a picnic. Daniela is a Chicana from Los Angeles living in San Diego.
The 8 Best (and Worst) DIY Cleaning Solutions Ranked by a Chemist
Just because it’s easy, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
1 day ago
7 Must-Have Functional Kitchen Decor Items, According to Interior Designers
They’re both pretty *and* versatile.
2 days ago
16 Latinx-Owned Grocery Brands to Keep Stocked in Your Kitchen
Members of #TeamMezcal, number 15 is for you.
Sep 15, 2023
18 Spooky-Chic Halloween Kitchen Decor Finds from IKEA, World Market, Crate & Barrel, and More
They’re scary good — on any budget.
Aug 29, 2023
How I Turned My Wedding Bouquet into the Most Asked-About Item in My Kitchen
The newlyweds will thank you (forever).
Aug 18, 2023
The $35 Cold Brew Find for the Easiest Summer Mornings
Shopping
Especially for the triple-digit weather.
Aug 2, 2023
We Compared Prices for 10 Cleaning Products at Aldi Versus Target — And One Was *Way* Cheaper
Brand-name and off-brand items both had *major* cost differences.
Jul 15, 2023
7 Charming World Market Decor Finds (Under $50) That Double as Kitchen Storage
You won't find these at most home goods retailers.
Jul 11, 2023
This Nice-Smelling (and Eco-Friendly!) Kitchen Cleaner Is Basically Summer in a Bottle
It fights grease, grime, and odors without any harsh chemicals.
Jun 29, 2023
The Game-Changing Japanese Home Organization Brand You’ve Never Heard Of — Until Now
Plus, why you won’t find them in most stores.
May 19, 2023
This $20 Warming Tray Is a Must-Have for Any Outdoor Hosting
Shopping
Because no one likes cold wings.
May 5, 2023
I Tried the TikTok Hack for Cleaning Under My Greasy Kitchen Cabinets
No scrubbing required!
Apr 20, 2023
The 7 Natural Products “Queen of Cleaning” Vanessa Amaro Uses in Her Kitchen
Plant-derived products can clean just as well as chemicals.
Apr 20, 2023
I Sniffed Dozens of Candles, and These Are the 8 Your Home Needs This Spring
Picks for every palette and budget.
Apr 16, 2023
6 IKEA Spring Decor Finds That Double as Kitchen Storage (Year-Round)
Leave it to IKEA to create the most clever home decor items (for less).
Apr 14, 2023
I Tried Every Store-Bought Queso Dip I Could Find — These Are the 3 I’ll Buy Again
Taste Test
We picked winners for salsa con queso and queso blanco.
Apr 7, 2023
Our Favorite Way to Deep-Clean Probably Isn't Yours
This method is the only way to curb our procrastination.
Mar 30, 2023
The Smartest Organizer in My Kitchen Is Hiding in Plain Sight — And I’m Obsessed
With a little shuffling, it gave my tiny kitchen all the extra space I needed.
Mar 22, 2023
This Eco-Friendly Dish Spray Is a Great Alternative to Your Usual Favorite — And It Smells Incredible
What’s more? Its light orange scent is heavenly.
Mar 13, 2023
6 Kitchen Storage Solutions IKEA Really Gets Right
The best part? They're all on sale!
Feb 24, 2023
Black Tea Is the Secret to Keeping My Kitchen Cabinets Clean (Yes, Really!)
The tea not only gets rid of all the grease, grime, and fingerprints, but it also leaves a smooth matte finish without leaving them dull and stripped of their color. 
Feb 22, 2023
He Cooks, I Clean — It’s Our Love Language
Since moving in together five years ago, both of our preferred love languages to receive and express love have been “acts of service” and “quality time.”
Feb 13, 2023
The Single Best Shopping Tip We Learned About Trader Joe’s in 2022
Groceries
It'll cut down on your impulse spending.
Dec 25, 2022
The 5 Best Trader Joe’s Hacks We Learned This Year
Groceries
Open your chips from the bottom!
Dec 17, 2022
I Tried Every Store-Bought Mexican Hot Chocolate I Could Find — This Is the One I’ll Buy Again
Taste Test
"The deliciously rich and slightly bitter, slightly sweet flavor make this the top choice."
Dec 15, 2022
I Cleaned My Oven Door with That Wildly Popular Scrub from Etsy — And I’m Seriously Impressed
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
Wait until you see the before and after photos!
Oct 30, 2022
Break Your Paper Towel Habit with This $17 Cleaning Tool
These Swedish dishcloths are my new favorite cleaning tool.
Oct 26, 2022
8 Mexican Candies You’ll Want to Buy This Halloween — And Beyond
Groceries
Including a salty-sweet candy that's the most fun to eat!
Oct 20, 2022
This $3 IKEA Find Is the Secret Ingredient in My Cheesecake
Groceries
My crusts haven't been the same since.
Oct 17, 2022
10 Groceries These Mexican Grandmas Always Have on Hand
Groceries
One grandma buys queso fresco up to three times a week — it vanishes that quickly!
Oct 8, 2022
7 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores
Groceries
Pasta sauce! Chili! Frozen shrimp! And more!
Oct 5, 2022
2 Easy Hacks to Store Your Open Chip Bags and Cereal Boxes — Without Clips
For me, chip clips are like socks — you buy a few at a time, but eventually they end up disappearing into an unknown abyss. For those several instances I’ve lost a chip clip, I lazily fold or tie chip bags or sliced bread bags in a manner that is not secure and usually speeds up the process of food becoming stale or growing mold.Fortunately, I came across a simple TikTok hack that I thought could work to preserve my pantry snacks including chips and cereal.
Oct 2, 2022
TikTok’s Vanesa Amaro on Cleaning, Culture, and Her Favorite Mexican Cleaning Supplies
Vanesa is dedicated to breaking stereotypes, being a helpful resource, and sharing advice with those who feel shame in any way when it comes to cleaning. 
Sep 30, 2022
The $4 Box of Tea I Reach for Every Fall
Groceries
There is no warmer hug on a crisp autumn day.
Sep 27, 2022
3 Signs Your Tea Kettle Needs to Be Cleaned Right Now — And How to Do It
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
It's time for tea!
Sep 26, 2022